Why So Sad? & Nike SB Launch Mental Health Comic

January 27, 2023

Nike Skateboarding (SB) and storytelling platform, "Why So Sad?", partnered in November 2022 on a shoe collaboration. As part of the partnership, the duo has since released a comic that explores the roots of depression, anxiety and chronic stress, as well as sharing approaches to help improve well-being.

After losing his sister to suicide and dealing with depression himself, Scottish professional skateboarder, John Rattray, developed Why So Sad? in 2017. The project and storytelling platform approaches the serious subject of suicide through light-hearted skateboard language and intends to educate on well-being tactics. It invites real conversation around the subject and encourages people to stop, listen and look inward.

“I can’t count all the times I’ve heard, ‘skateboarding saved my life’, or ‘skateboarding's my escape’” said Rattray. “My point is that’s great! Now, let's explore that all-important follow-up question, ‘what has it saved you from?’, ‘what are you escaping from?’”

Described as a grassroots campaign, Why So Sad? explores psychology, health and suicide prevention in and around skateboarding. It focuses on merging mental health with physical health – two subjects that are often seen separate from each other.

Developed in partnership with illustrator Jon Horner, psychiatrist Dr. Bruce Perry, Push to Heal and the Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport (CHJS), the new comic discusses how skateboarding, as well as sport and other rhythmic activities, can be used as one part of a healing toolkit. Dr. Perry’s work shows how patterned, repetitive movement has a calming de-stressing effect that can allow us to regain access to parts of our brains that are disrupted when experiencing depression or stress.

Beyond Sport Network member, CHJS works to ensure more young people have access to sport experiences that are youth-centered, healing-centered, inclusive and work to address issues of systemic injustice. The organization partnered with Nike in 2021 on healing-centered sport coaching workshops.

Push to Heal is a project using skateboarding to help young people through childhood trauma and ultimately prevent suicide. Joel Pippus, who runs the Push to Heal program in Calgary, Canada, points out that skateboarding is particularly well suited to engaging with patterned repetitive activities. His work is specifically related to young people with major trauma and resulting difficulty with social skills.

Nike SB’s community impact groups support several organizations relevant to the Why So Sad? ethos. These include The Ben Raemers Foundation, Skate Like a Girl, CHJS, Gurls Talk, Crisis Text Line and the Harold Hunter Foundation.